Vehicle console assembly

Abstract

A vehicle console assembly includes a body that defines a storage space. The body includes an upper rim. A support assembly is operable between a first position at one end of the upper rim and a second position at a second end of the upper rim. The support assembly is operable between a folded armrest condition and a deployed tray condition. An actuation assembly is operably coupled to the support assembly. The actuation assembly includes at least one cable having coils. The at least one cable is coupled to the support assembly. A motor is configured to engage the coils of the at least one cable to translate the support assembly between the first position and the second position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle console assembly, comprising:
 a body defining a storage space, wherein the body includes an upper rim; 
 a track extending along the upper rim of the body; 
 a support assembly operable between a first position at a first end of the upper rim and a second position at a second end of the upper rim, wherein the support assembly is operable between a folded armrest condition and a deployed tray condition, wherein the support assembly includes an engagement portion extending into the storage space, and wherein the engagement portion includes a drive feature slidably received in a guide rail of the track; and 
 an actuation assembly operably coupled to the support assembly, wherein the actuation assembly includes:
 at least one cable having coils, wherein the at least one cable is coupled to the support assembly and extends through a first channel defined by the track; and 
 a motor configured to engage the coils of the at least one cable to translate the support assembly between the first position and the second position. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle console assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support assembly includes:
 a connector panel extending between opposing sides of the rim; 
 a first side panel rotatably coupled to a first side of the connector panel; and 
 a second side panel rotatably coupled to a second side of the connector panel, wherein the first and second side panels are disposed on the connector panel in the folded armrest condition and disposed adjacent to the connector panel in the deployed tray condition. 
 
     
     
       3. The vehicle console assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support assembly is in the folded armrest condition when in the first position on the upper rim and in the deployed tray condition when in the second position on the upper rim. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle console assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cable includes a drive cable and a return cable, and wherein the drive feature is fixedly coupled to the drive cable. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle console assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an electronic control unit communicatively coupled to the actuation assembly, wherein the actuation assembly includes a Hall sensor configured to sense rotations of the motor, and wherein the electronic control unit is configured to monitor sensed rotations to determine a position of the support assembly relative to the upper rim. 
 
     
     
       6. The vehicle console assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the drive cable extends through the first channel defined by the track, and wherein the return cable extends through a second channel defined by the track. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle console assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the track includes a pair of track portions on opposing sides of the upper rim, and wherein the at least one cable extends through each of the pair of track portions. 
     
     
       8. A power tray system for a center console, comprising:
 a track including a first track portion and a second track portion spaced from the first track portion; 
 a flocked drive cable extending through the first track portion; 
 a flocked return cable extending through the second track portion, wherein the flocked return cable is connected to the flocked drive cable; 
 a motor having a drive gear configured to engage coils of the flocked drive cable; and 
 a support assembly coupled to the flocked drive cable, wherein the drive gear is configured to engage the coils of the flocked drive cable to drive movement of the flocked drive cable relative to the track and, consequently, translate the support assembly between first and second positions relative to the track, and wherein the support assembly is operable between a folded armrest condition and deployed tray condition. 
 
     
     
       9. The power tray system of  claim 8 , wherein the support assembly includes side panels, and wherein each side panel includes a cushion on one side thereof, and wherein the cushions are on upper surfaces of the side panels when the side panels are in the folded armrest condition. 
     
     
       10. The power tray system of  claim 9 , wherein the cushions are on lower surfaces of the side panels when the side panels are in the deployed tray condition. 
     
     
       11. The power tray system of  claim 8 , wherein the support assembly includes:
 a connector panel; and 
 side panels rotatably coupled to the connector panel, wherein the side panels are disposed on the connector panel in the folded armrest condition and adjacent to the connector panel in the deployed tray condition. 
 
     
     
       12. The power tray system of  claim 11 , wherein the connector panel extends between the first and second track portions. 
     
     
       13. The power tray system of  claim 12 , wherein the connector panel includes an engagement portion that has a drive feature coupled to the flocked drive cable within a guide rail of the first track portion. 
     
     
       14. The power tray system of  claim 13 , wherein the track is coupled to a body defining a storage space, wherein the engagement portion of the connector panel extends into the storage space, and wherein the support assembly is configured to translate over the storage space between the first and second positions. 
     
     
       15. A center console, comprising:
 a body defining a storage space; 
 a track coupled to the body; 
 a support assembly having side panels rotatably coupled to a connector panel, wherein the side panels are operable between a folded condition over the connector panel and a deployed condition forming a continuous surface with the connector panel, wherein the support assembly includes an engagement portion extending into the storage space, and wherein the engagement portion engages the track; and 
 an actuation assembly operably coupled to the support assembly and the track, wherein the actuation assembly includes:
 a cable extending through the track and coupled to the support assembly; and 
 a motor having a drive gear, wherein the drive gear is configured to engage the cable to translate the support assembly between first and second positions relative to the body. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The center console of  claim 15 , wherein the cable is a flocked cable and the drive gear is configured to engage coils of the flocked cable. 
     
     
       17. The center console of  claim 15 , wherein the support assembly translates over the storage space between the first and second positions. 
     
     
       18. The center console of  claim 15 , wherein the support assembly is in the folded condition when in the first position on the body and in the deployed condition when in the second position on the body. 
     
     
       19. The center console of  claim 15 , wherein the side panels are coupled to the connector panel via hinge assemblies, respectively, and wherein the side panels, the connector panel, and the hinge assemblies form a continuous surface when in the deployed condition. 
     
     
       20. The center console of  claim 15 , wherein the cable extends uninterrupted along a first side of the body, an end of the body, and a second side of the body.